The Guardian’s Lois Beckett tweeted that she had asked the NRA if Trump’s comments “represent a betrayal of NRA members, or if the group would change their position to support the president's new agenda.” She attached the organization's response in her tweet.

“The National Rifle Association has always supported efforts to secure our schools and keep firearms out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves or others, whether they are criminals or mentally ill,” the NRA said in the statement. “This can be accomplished without shifting the focus, blame, or burden onto safe, law-abiding gun owners.”

The group also said “the systemic failure of government to keep us safe reinforces the need for the Second Amendment.”

“We will continue to support legislative efforts to make our schools and communities safe and oppose gun control schemes that cannot keeps us safe and only punish law-abiding Americans,” the statement read.

The statement was the first public comments made by the NRA since the meeting, and made no direct mentions of Trump or the measures he pushed for during the meeting.

Asked the NRA if President Trump's remarks today represent a betrayal of NRA members, or if the group would change their position to support the president's new agenda. This is the NRA's initial response. No mention of Trump. pic.twitter.com/AmStxp2VpJ

Trump in a Wednesday meeting with lawmakers called for new legislation on a number of gun control measures that the NRA has traditionally opposed, like raising the age requirement to buy a rifle to 21.

Trump, who was endorsed by the NRA during his presidential campaign, also challenged Republicans at the meeting to confront the powerful group.

“Some of you are petrified of the NRA,” Trump said. “They do have great power over you people. They have less power over me. I don’t need it, what do I need?”

The NRA released a statement later Wednesday addressing the meeting.

“While today’s meeting made for great TV, the gun-control proposals discussed would make for bad policy that would not keep our children safe,” NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said in a statement to The Hill.

“Instead of punishing law-abiding gun owners for the acts of a deranged lunatic our leaders should pass meaningful reforms that would actually prevent future tragedies.”

Trump also said during the meeting that he would sign an executive order to ban bump stocks and voiced support for a bill to improve the federal criminal background check system used for gun sales.

He also urged lawmakers not to attach an NRA-backed measure allowing people to carry concealed weapons across state lines to the background checks bill, saying the legislation would “never pass.”